Man confirmed dead at scene as fire crews tackle blaze after explosion at property in Rylands Drive

A man has died after reports of an explosion at a house in Wolverhampton.

Fire crews were alerted at around 3.15pm on Tuesday afternoon after an explosion was reported at the property in Rylands Drive, in the Penn area of the city.

An ambulance crew, a paramedic area support officer, a senior paramedic officer, the West Midlands CARE Team and the Hazardous Area Response Team were in attendance. The Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford was also initially sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Wearing personal protective clothing and using breathing apparatus, the Hazardous Area Response Team entered the building with the fire service where they found the body of a man.

“He was confirmed dead at the scene.”

    

Four fire crews from Fallings Park, Tettenhall and Wednesbury were sent to tackle the blaze. Police and National Grid were also in attendance, though it was later confirmed that gas was not the cause of the blast.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: “It appears there was an explosion and a fire, mainly on the first floor and into the roof space.

“We can confirm that this incident was not a gas explosion. National Grid have ensured there is no gas near the premises.”

Rylands Drive and nearby Mount Road were closed and members of the public were advised to avoid the area.

The incident happened only a few streets away from Penn Road, where a woman miraculously escaped with only cuts and bruises after her house was reduced to rubble by a gas explosion last week.